Encloses further specimens he hopes will be new to British flora. Numbered observations: 1. 'Galium witheringia' [Smith annotation: "right!"]; 2. 'Gnaphalium' like close to 'germanica', supposes 'Filago arvenses' of Withering [Smith annotation: "'germanicum'?"]; 3. variety of 'Achillea millefolium' [Smith annotation: "a var[iet]y of 'millefolium'"]; 4. a 'Daucus' like 'D. carota' [Smith annotation: "'Carota'?"]. Asks Goodenough to forward this letter to Dr [James Edward] Smith.

Numbered observations on enclosed plants: 1. two varities of true 'Hieracium paniculatum' of Linnaeus; 2. a 'Thalictrum' distinct from 'T. minus'; 3. a 'Hypericum' possible hybrid of 'H. hirsutum' and 'H. quadrangulum' [Smith annotation: "wrote March 20 1810, surely only 'hirsutum' in a wet soil"]. Asks Goodenough to forward this letter to Dr [James Edward] Smith, apologises for inconvenience to Goodenough.

Numbered observations on enclosed plants: 1. a 'Lemna' like 'L. trifolia'; 2. an 'Equisetum' with habit of 'E. variegatum'; 3. a 'Potamogeton' possibly 'P. graminosum'; 4. a 'Poa' probably not variety of 'P. nemoralis' [Goodenough annotation: "'Poa angustifolia'? S.C."]; 5. possible 'Festuca triflora'. Will be among the 'Hieraciums' next, when he will be able to "puzzel [sic] all the Botanists of England". Asks Goodenough to forward this letter to Dr [James Edward] Smith.

Encloses specimens of 'Hieracium', which are "truly intricate like the willows and some other families", believes no one can judge of between species and varities unless they cultivate them; numbered observations: 1. 'Hieracium ramosum' said to be native of Hungary; 2. 'H. kalmii', contrary to Goodenough's claim distinct from 'H. prenanthoides'; 3. a 'Hieracium' he previoulsy thought described in "Flora Britannica". Asks Goodenough to forward this letter to Dr [James Edward] Smith.

Encloses specimen of true 'Hieracium prenanthoides'. Numbered observations on additional enclosed specimens: 1. an unknown 'Hieracium'; 2. possible 'H. kalmii' raised from seed by Mr Mackay; 3. a 'Hieracium' grown by late [William] Curtis in his Lambeth garden, never found wild, raised from seeds sent by [James] Donn [(1758-1813), curator of Cambridge Botanic Garden] under names of 'H. cornatum' and another.

Numbered observations on enclosed specimens: 1. an 'Agrostis', discovered on beach in Angushire in 1807 with 'Equisetum variegatum' [Goodenough annotation: "can this be a variety of 'Agrostis setacea'? S.C."]; 2. a 'Saxifraga' same as no. 8 in letter he sent 3 April 1809; 3. a 'Scleranthus'; 4. a 'Scleranthus annuus'; 5. a new 'Anthemis' proposes name 'A. bicolor'; 6. another new 'Anthemis' proposes name 'A. tricolor'. Hopes to hear from Goodenough soon, asks him to forward this letter to Dr [James Edward] Smith [address label to Smith at Norwich, 3 September 1809].

Sending specimens of 'Arundo neglecta', 'Rottboellia filiformis', very rare, 'Silene alpestre', and non-descript 'Poa'; observations. Observes what Goodenough says about 'Viola', there seem to be 3 species under name 'V. canina'. Does not think 'Arundo neglecta' can be what [John Leonard] Knapp has drawn for 'A. calamagrostis'; supposes he has received better 'Rubus' specimens from [Charles] Lyell.

Detailed observations on 'Avena', particularly 'A. pubescens' and a new glaucous one. Found new species of 'Aira' by the sea. Could not find 'Chaerophyllum'. Seeds for 'Galium witheringia' all gone for this year, but will collect seed next year as it is a common plant here. Sorry to disagree with Goodenough on the 'Gnaphalium'. Encloses seeds of two varities of 'Daucus mauritanicus'.

Desires Goodenough's opinion on remainder of the plants he sent via Lyell. Sent [James] Sowerby a 'Cochlearia', who thought it 'C. anglica', would like opinion on this and 'Potentilla tridentata', which grows amongst roots of 'Erica vulgaris'.

Numbered observations on enclosed specimens: 1. nondescript 'Poa', different from most other species including 'P. compressa'; 2. 'Asplenium alternifolium' from America; 3. an 'Agaricus' growing on 'Trichosotum lanuginosum'; 4-5. 'Biameages' [?]; 6. possible 'Lichen abietinus' of "English botany"; 7. 'Conferva' growing on decayed 'Agaricus'; 8. 'Conferva'; 9. [indecipherable, same as 4 and 5]; 10. 'Dicranum strumiferum'; 11. minute 'Grimmia'.

Long desiderata for his garden, to be sent by franks or ship from London to Dundee.

Uncertain where to forward [George] Don's late "lucubrations" to Smith. Finds that 'Bromus racemosus' is the most common grass in his fields, and has 'Hieracium murorum' growing upon the walls of Rose Castle; offers to send specimen to [James] Sowerby.

When reading in [George] Don's letters he is struck with "the simplicity of his style, & the acuteness of his remarks". Hopes to hear from Smith soon, wishes he would visit "this retired Philosophical spot"; one of the area's two botanists brought him specimens of 'Rubus sylvaticus' and 'Cistus heliantheum' to have planted in the garden, fears he lost his botanical standing by confusing the 'Cistus' with 'Vaccinium'.

"What an indefatigable creature is this [George] Don?". Asks if Don is right about 'Agrostis arundinacea', thinks it may be an 'Arundo epigeios'; 'Thlaspi hirtum' and 'T. incanum' appear distinct. Invites Smith to visit in August; has just discovered a botanist in his neighbourhood who is a Cambridge man and may prove more than an amateur, of which he already has two.

Constantly reminded of Smith by his "very assiduous & ever-to-be-encouraged correspondent Mr G[eorge] Don". Made to doubt his own knowledge after seeing Don's "acute observations", and wonder "where have all these things lain since the days of Adam, that no one should have noticed them before". Does not wish for Smith to be charged for any of [the Don letters and plant specimens]. Eagerly awaiting confirmation of Smith's visit.

Cover from enclosure sent by Samuel Goodenough.

Three specimens, labelled: two of "autumn flowering specimen of the 'Saxifraga' [Smith] purposed to call 'peduncularis'", and one of "'Silene alpestris' on a rock on a mountain to the east of Clova, 1795" [plants sent to Smith by Don, via Goodenough].

Still waiting to hear Smith's opinion on those plants he sent himself and via [Charles] Lyell. Numbered observations on enclosed mosses he previously sent to [Dawson] Turner, also without response: 2. [sic] a 'Grimmia', would like to name it after W Symonds, who died in Barbados; 3. a 'Grimmia', proposes name 'G. alpina' or 'G. nivalis'; 4. a 'Hypnum'; 5. another 'Hypnum'.

Numbered observations on enclosed plants: 1. 'Potentilla tridentata' [Smith annotation: "right"]; 2. 'Lychnis alpina' [Smith annotation: "right"]; 3. 'Ranunculus alpestris' [Smith annotation: "right"]; 4. a 'Silene' resembling 'S. alpestris' [Smith annotation: "the 'Silene' will be sent in my next"] ; 5. a 'Crepis' [Smith annotation: "'pulcra' HL"]; 6. 'Cochlearia groenlandica' [Smith annotation: "right HL"]; 7. the true 'Erigeron uniflorum' [Smith annotation: "right!"]; 8. a 'Saxifraga' cultivated for 2 years in strong, rich, wet soil [Smith annotation: "new, the 2 darkest specimens green specimens is cultivated in the wet soil!"]; 9. a 'Cerastium' [Smith annotation: "'Stellaria cerastoides'"]; 10. 'Fontinalis pennata' of Linnaeus [Smith annotation: "'Neckera pumila'"].

Enquires after specimens he sent some years ago as 'Spergula maxima' and 'S. arvensis' [Smith annotation: "both 'arvensis'"].

Two small specimens, labelled "2".

Responds to queries in Smith's letter of 8 September [1809]: will send 'Lamium' seeds; has found no evidence of 'Lychnis alpina' being planted, despite rarity, difficulty of ascertaining how many seeds it proudces, describes similar instances with 'Gentiana nivale', 'Gnaphalium sylvaticum', 'Sonchus caeruleus', and 'Hieracium molle'.

Numbered remarks and observations on plants, headed 18 May [probably date of Smith's reply to Don's letter of 3 April 1809]: 1. will try to identify the 'Ranunculus'; 2. 'Saxifraga' new species; 3. 'Potentilla' new species; 4. 'Grimmia' new species. Obervations on 'Ranunculus alpestres'; 'Crepis pulchra'; species of 'Silene'; 'Cochlearia groenlandica'. Observations on numbered specimens in his last letter: 8. argues case for naming new 'Saxifraga' 'S. peduncularis'; 9. "certainly not 'Stellaria cerastoides' but a 'Cerastium'.

Will send seeds of 'Spergula maxima'.

Sends roots and runners of a grass called 'Fiorin' which [William] Richardson has written on with intention of making it a valuable animal foodstock, suspects it may be 'Agrostis stolonifera'. Has been bound to his bedroom since beginning of January. A vast fish, 55 feet [16.7m] long and 12 feet [3.7m] in circumference, that was washed up on the Orkney Islands is a cartilaginous fish and not a whale, as was supposed.

Has resigned management of the King's [George III (1738-1820)] merino flock due to ill health. Only way Banks knows of obtaining the sheep is at the King's sale.

Thanks Smith for turkeys. Grateful for assistance Smith has given to Mr Home. Postscript of a short Christmas poem by Thomas Tusser, taken from Tusser's "Five Hundred Points of Good Husbandry", remarks that it was first printed in 1557.

a "dreadful" six day journey from Carlisle to London brought on gout. Discusses 'Nymphaea' as mentioned in Theophrastus, Dioscorides, and Stephen's "Thesaurus". Not surprised at [James] Donn's [(1758-1813), curator of Cambridge Botanic Garden] attacks on [George] Don if he "learned any of the tricks of Thomas Agnew, to whom he was second at Kew" [Donn had accused Don of using seeds from Cambridge to grow into plants to claim as indigenous to Scotland, see RelatedMaterial]. Thanks Smith for offer of a turkey. Has not had a chance to see the "Anti-Jacobin".

Thanks for the turkey. [James] Brodie sent a letter to Miss [Elizabeth] Hill [(c 1760-1850), algologist] via himself, in addition sent him specimens of '[Fucus] lycopodioides' and 'Brodiaea'. Received report from the Bishop of Chester [Henry Majendie (1764-1830)] that the King [George III (1738-1820)] is "perfectly well & in high spirits"; the "Jacobinical rumours" of abdication and regency border on treason. Sir Joseph Banks recovering from a slight attack of gout.